Together Greener site allows local people to play their part in creating a cleaner, greener, healthier Islington

The “Together Greener” microsite provides users with in-depth information about the steps they can take to help tackle the climate emergency. Through the site’s carbon calculator, local people and organisations can answer questions on their environmental impact - on themes such as energy use, behaviour, and transport.  

Based on the answers to the questions, the calculator estimates how much carbon the user consumes per year and suggests actions to reduce this – such as taking more journeys by foot, bike or public transport, turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby, or buying second-hand more often. This can also allow local people to make changes that cut their energy bills, which is important during the current cost of living crisis.  

The Together Greener site then allows local people and organisations to “pledge” to take each action, and to share their pledges on social media to encourage others to do the same. Islington-based cooperative Outlandish were commissioned by the council to develop the calculator and pledge tool – which is believed to be the first of its kind in London.  

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, the council has taken steps to reduce emissions in Islington, such as the introduction of people-friendly streets, delivering greener, cheaper energy to hundreds of local people, and publishing its Vision 2030 strategy for achieving net zero carbon status by 2030.  

However, 91% of the borough’s emissions are not caused by the council itself. That is why the council is working with local people and organisations to reduce their emissions, and the launch of the Together Greener microsite is another way that the council is supporting local people to tackle this issue, together.  

Cllr Rowena Champion, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, said: “Tackling the climate emergency is a top priority for us and we are taking action to do just that, but we know that we can’t do it alone. Islington itself is one of the six London boroughs most at risk to climate change and we can only tackle that if we do so together.  

“That is why we’re working hard to create a cleaner, greener, healthier Islington. This can only be achieved if all of us – the council, local people, organisations and partners – play our part.  

“The Together Greener site provides residents and local businesses with accurate information about their emissions, and invites them to make pledges to reduce their carbon footprint. This innovative new tool will help people across our borough make smarter, greener choices to help lower their bills and create a more environmentally-friendly future for Islington.” 

The positive actions that Islington Council has taken to reduce pollution are reflected in new data which shows a 45% reduction in carbon emissions in the borough between 2005 and 2019. This exceeds a previously-set target of reducing emissions by 40% between 2005 and 2020. 

The Together Greener site is one of many ways that the council is supporting local people to play an active role in tackling the climate emergency.  

Through the Islington Greener Futures investment, London’s first Community Municipal Investment (CMI), local people are able to invest as little as £5 to support a range of environmentally-friendly, Islington-based initiatives. More than £900,000 has already been raised through Islington Greener Futures, and local people have until Monday, 31 January 2022 to invest and help the council hit its £1 million target.  

The CMI is being managed by ethical investment crowdfunding firm Abundance Investment, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. More information and details on how to invest in the Islington Greener Futures can be found on Abundance’s website.  As with all financial investments, your capital is at risk.